Germany and Cars
Discussion
Just returned from Germany with family for my first non-business extended look around and I am blown away. What a great country with great people and a refreshing attitude to life and in particular the attitude to technology and all things automotive.
My E46M3 was at home, and finally used in some way approaching its GT potential (I guess it HAS been used quite well on B-roads over here in the UK).
From the rural tranquility of Wietzendorf to the social buzz on Englischer Park in Munich, the superb model show in Hamburg we explored only a fraction of the country, but what a great nation and the run along the A9 into Munich was quite incredible!
The BMW Welt was fab, as was Nurburg Exhibition/park and 'ring & the endurance race that was running (ouch to the GT3 that lost some paint in front of us! Driver OK) was stunning and FREE.
Glad for my PS2's fitment which finally got warmed up properly!
Can't wait to go back, and hope to make that a regular visit. No point in M-Power without Germany!
My E46M3 was at home, and finally used in some way approaching its GT potential (I guess it HAS been used quite well on B-roads over here in the UK).
From the rural tranquility of Wietzendorf to the social buzz on Englischer Park in Munich, the superb model show in Hamburg we explored only a fraction of the country, but what a great nation and the run along the A9 into Munich was quite incredible!
The BMW Welt was fab, as was Nurburg Exhibition/park and 'ring & the endurance race that was running (ouch to the GT3 that lost some paint in front of us! Driver OK) was stunning and FREE.
Glad for my PS2's fitment which finally got warmed up properly!
Can't wait to go back, and hope to make that a regular visit. No point in M-Power without Germany!
Edited by Davidonly on Sunday 29th May 20:29
Yeah have recently been going there for holidays just about every year. Fantastic country.
Great place to go for driving holidays.
I always like a country where the majority of the people respect where they live. Germany is definitely one of these places. Everywhere is very clean, everything works and the infrastructure means its a great place to drive and do things.
Great place to go for driving holidays.
I always like a country where the majority of the people respect where they live. Germany is definitely one of these places. Everywhere is very clean, everything works and the infrastructure means its a great place to drive and do things.
I live in Germany its refreshing to hear a visitors point of view but there are some down sides to driving like the thousands of hidden speed cameras which you would not have seen.THe social welfare is abysmal compared to the UK the hospitals are brilliant but visiting a local doctor is expensive and something out of the dark ages .Germany is ok if you are working and reasonable well off otherwise its a hard country with low wages and high living costs I have been here since 91 and consider myself lucky I personally think for all its faults the UK is a far better and fairer place to live just my opinion.
Collos. I don't know where you've got your ideas about Germany from...
Thousands of speed cameras? Bulls
t.... they are few and far between (I've driven over 2 million kms in the last 30 years here and had a total of 4 fines and no points)
Poor medical? I'd rather be in the worst of german hospitals than in any NHS butchers shop.
Visiting a doctor expensive.... if you're a private patient you have to pay up front but get 100% refunded... for anyone else its free (apart from €10 a quarter and your deductions from pay)
Social services... germany doesn't pay for chavs and wasters to the same extent as GB, and certainly doesn't put up with illegals....
Obviously you're expecting Germany to be the chav central that GB is, with hand outs for all wasters and indigents.
Certainly not everything is right with Germany, but a damn sight righter than a destroyed GB after 13 years of labour feck ups.
If you've lived here since 1991 you've obviously been living with your head up your backside... try getting out more!!!
JMGS4 - in Germany since 1974 and a few years before that in the forces...
Thousands of speed cameras? Bulls
t.... they are few and far between (I've driven over 2 million kms in the last 30 years here and had a total of 4 fines and no points)Poor medical? I'd rather be in the worst of german hospitals than in any NHS butchers shop.
Visiting a doctor expensive.... if you're a private patient you have to pay up front but get 100% refunded... for anyone else its free (apart from €10 a quarter and your deductions from pay)
Social services... germany doesn't pay for chavs and wasters to the same extent as GB, and certainly doesn't put up with illegals....
Obviously you're expecting Germany to be the chav central that GB is, with hand outs for all wasters and indigents.
Certainly not everything is right with Germany, but a damn sight righter than a destroyed GB after 13 years of labour feck ups.
If you've lived here since 1991 you've obviously been living with your head up your backside... try getting out more!!!
JMGS4 - in Germany since 1974 and a few years before that in the forces...
Edited by JMGS4 on Wednesday 8th June 07:24
JMGS4 said:
Collos. I don't know where you've got your ideas about Germany from...
Thousands of speed cameras? Bullst.... they are few and far between (I've driven over 2 million kms in the last 30 years here and had a total of 4 fines and no points)
Poor medical? I'd rather be in the worst of german hospitals than in any NHS butchers shop.
Visiting a doctor expensive.... if you're a private patient you have to pay up front but get 100% refunded... for anyone else its free (apart from €10 a quarter and your deductions from pay)
Social services... germany doesn't pay for chavs and wasters to the same extent as GB, and certainly doesn't put up with illegals....
Obviously you're expecting Germany to be the chav central that GB is, with hand outs for all wasters and indigents.
Certainly not everything is right with Germany, but a damn sight righter than a destroyed GB after 13 years of labour feck ups.
If you've lived here since 1991 you've obviously been living with your head up your backside... try getting out more!!!
JMGS4 - in Germany since 1974 and a few years before that in the forces...
I have been living in Germany on and off for the last 15years, and I agree with a lot of what you said... (but as you said not everything is perfect...) as I like to call Germany at the moment, is Baustellenland!!! Not good for driving but an excellent place to see lots of roadworks.... (I drive about 50,000kms per year throughout the EU but always through Germany)Thousands of speed cameras? Bulls
t.... they are few and far between (I've driven over 2 million kms in the last 30 years here and had a total of 4 fines and no points)Poor medical? I'd rather be in the worst of german hospitals than in any NHS butchers shop.
Visiting a doctor expensive.... if you're a private patient you have to pay up front but get 100% refunded... for anyone else its free (apart from €10 a quarter and your deductions from pay)
Social services... germany doesn't pay for chavs and wasters to the same extent as GB, and certainly doesn't put up with illegals....
Obviously you're expecting Germany to be the chav central that GB is, with hand outs for all wasters and indigents.
Certainly not everything is right with Germany, but a damn sight righter than a destroyed GB after 13 years of labour feck ups.
If you've lived here since 1991 you've obviously been living with your head up your backside... try getting out more!!!
JMGS4 - in Germany since 1974 and a few years before that in the forces...
Edited by JMGS4 on Wednesday 8th June 07:24
The only moan I would have is that there is definitely a great divide between the driving ability between North and South... (South being worse, most obnoxious!, Mercedes, BMW & AUDI drivers!!).
C15
I agree with collos - I've been living here 5 years now and Germany (well Mannheim and Munich from my experience) is far from the ideal that many picture it as. I've also lived in Zurich and Madrid, and really enjoyed my time there, but Germany - I can't wait to leave. Health care is extremely expensive and not so good (GPs overbook their time and so waiting time is incredible - far more than NHS GPs - and then they spend 2 mins with you (pushing homoeopathic crap)). Supermarkets are at the level of 80s UK with the same level of food quality (in the 5 years here, there has been scandal after scandal - Gammelfleisch, dioxins and now E.coli) and, about driving, well let's just say that Audi drivers get their training here (although it does improve as you move out of Munich). Funnily enough, I work in an international organisation and all the colleagues who are also very international say they enjoy driving in England best as everyone is so courteous and relaxed.
For more on Germany from expats' viewpoints, have a look at www.toytowngermany.com
For more on Germany from expats' viewpoints, have a look at www.toytowngermany.com
I've only ever had good experience with doctors here in Germany, the one I go to I just turn up early in the morning and get in within 15 minutes with no appointment, kids doctors have always been very easy too
if you don't like your doctor, you're totally free to go to another, or to get a 2nd opinion, to go to a specialist etc, none of this 'signing up' with one doctor's surgery and only doing what he says
10€ a quarter is a bit of a pisser, but not the end of the world
thousands of hidden speed cameras? nope
all cameras are in pre-specified locations, you can upload them to your sat-nav (although you aren't supposed to use that data 'on the move')
they even announce them on all local radio stations' traffic reports
plus, no points until you're 20kmh over the limit, then only one point until 25 kmh over - with a limit of 18 you'd have to be trying hard to get a ban (but then it is a real ban, re-test, psychological test etc - I was on 16 points at one time!)
social welfare is great, 70% of your wage if you lose your job (for the first year anyway)
67% wage for a year's maternity leave, for mothers or fathers
some places it's different, but we only pay for one child in kindergarten (out of two) then when he's 3 it's free (supposed to be guaranteed KG places too)
street cleaning's great, public transport is fantastic (in Düsseldorf anyway)
parks and play areas for kids are great
used cars are more expensive though
supermarkets aren't great, there are one or two big ones here in ddorf though, I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Tesco etc though anyway
turkish greengrocers near me are great though, much better than any supermarket
if you don't like your doctor, you're totally free to go to another, or to get a 2nd opinion, to go to a specialist etc, none of this 'signing up' with one doctor's surgery and only doing what he says
10€ a quarter is a bit of a pisser, but not the end of the world
thousands of hidden speed cameras? nope
all cameras are in pre-specified locations, you can upload them to your sat-nav (although you aren't supposed to use that data 'on the move')
they even announce them on all local radio stations' traffic reports
plus, no points until you're 20kmh over the limit, then only one point until 25 kmh over - with a limit of 18 you'd have to be trying hard to get a ban (but then it is a real ban, re-test, psychological test etc - I was on 16 points at one time!)
social welfare is great, 70% of your wage if you lose your job (for the first year anyway)
67% wage for a year's maternity leave, for mothers or fathers
some places it's different, but we only pay for one child in kindergarten (out of two) then when he's 3 it's free (supposed to be guaranteed KG places too)
street cleaning's great, public transport is fantastic (in Düsseldorf anyway)
parks and play areas for kids are great
used cars are more expensive though
supermarkets aren't great, there are one or two big ones here in ddorf though, I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Tesco etc though anyway
turkish greengrocers near me are great though, much better than any supermarket
Edited by Hugo a Gogo on Thursday 9th June 11:17
gherkins said:
A load of beeatching from a dissatisfied ex-pat
Toytowngermany.... absolute sheiße from disaster area Brits who do nothing but moan.... All I can say is get a life.....I take it you don't mix or socialise with germans then? And judging by your posting probably don't speak the language either, otherwise you'd know more about the medical system than the garbage you're spouting.
Doctors do not push homeopathic crap here although there are a lot of good homeopaths (I'm not entering into the drugbaron v homeopath discussion here)
GB are only just attempting stent surgery (according to BBC, new and untested cure) Germany does over 10000 ops a year, saved my life with a 40 minute operation.
NHS - how about having your relations body dragged along the floor by illegal african immigrants??? or dying of thirst on a ward while waiting to see a (probably immigrant and unqualified) doctor?
Food scandals? howe about the british e-coli outbreaks? Seem to remeber many dead recently in SW Scotland....
Food standards? It was GB which brought BSE and Foot and Mouth back into the EU.
Driving in GB courteous? where the feck do you drive, certainly not in Britain... GB is now one of the most impolite driving countries left... even in the depths of primitive bavaria they still say good morning to you on the street, and let you pull out!!! Try that in London or other scumcentral and you'd be attacked!
Germany is not perfect, never said it was, but compared to chav central/labour disaster area GB, I can only say I'm glad I left when I did...
Edited by JMGS4 on Thursday 9th June 11:39
So, I'm not allowed to state my opinion that I have found, from experience, several places in the UK, Madrid and Zurich far better places to live than Mannheim and Munich? Of course, I must be talking out my arse.
So, Adenauer, where have you lived that makes Germany a paradise in comparison?
So, Adenauer, where have you lived that makes Germany a paradise in comparison?
gherkins said:
So, I'm not allowed to state my opinion that I have found, from experience, several places in the UK, Madrid and Zurich far better places to live than Mannheim and Munich? Of course, I must be talking out my arse.
So, Adenauer, where have you lived that makes Germany a paradise in comparison?
I have lived in Edinburgh, Parkstone, Lyme Regis, Bournemouth, Bath, Faulkland, Frome, and I now live in Adenau where I built a house approximately 500 yards from the Nürburgring, I prefer it here So, Adenauer, where have you lived that makes Germany a paradise in comparison?
Although what I do miss about England are the Indian takeaways
gherkins said:
So, I'm not allowed to state my opinion that I have found, from experience, several places in the UK, Madrid and Zurich far better places to live than Mannheim and Munich? Of course, I must be talking out my arse.
So, Adenauer, where have you lived that makes Germany a paradise in comparison?
Don't take it to heart fella. Its standard Pistonheads procedure to be flamed for personal opinion So, Adenauer, where have you lived that makes Germany a paradise in comparison?
If you've been on here for a while you'd know that most threads end up spiraling downwards because many like to be seen on a 'level above' the previous poster.
AJI said:
Don't take it to heart fella. Its standard Pistonheads procedure to be flamed for personal opinion
If you've been on here for a while you'd know that most threads end up spiraling downwards because many like to be seen on a 'level above' the previous poster.
My post certainly wasn't meant to come across as that and I apologise if it did. It was actually pretty tongue in cheek. If you've been on here for a while you'd know that most threads end up spiraling downwards because many like to be seen on a 'level above' the previous poster.
My experience of living in Germany is however, quite the opposite from that of Gherkin, so I thought I'd say so. I love it here, okay, so I'd like to wash the car on a Sunday without the risk of having my fingernails removed, but other than that, I'm very happy living in Germany, and quite frankly can't stand having to go back to Blighty (which I do a few times a year because of business).
Hugo a Gogo said:
Mannheim/Ludwigshafen is a bit of a hole, to be fair
As is München..gherkins - sorry about the language thing, moist toytowners are semiliterate... well done if you actually speak more languages than the average Brit, one up for you....
But do try to get out more old chap... you'll find Germany and the Germans are a lot better than Basil Fawlty's or Clarksons's view of them!!!
JMGS4 said:
As is München..
Which part of Munich is a hole?I've been there 3 times over the past 10years and really found it to be a fantastic city, very clean and really interesting.
Although it has to be said it was a holiday type affair in which I got hotel near the center each time.
Always ranked it as one of my favorite cities that I've ever been to.
AJI, have to go there on business regularly. Always wonder how they can think that they are the "secret capital" of Germany. Town is clean and regulated, but so self-involved they don't know that there is the rest of the world out there. Bavaria is just not Germany; apart from being the comic book germans...
Didn't mean a hole in the sense of London, Leicester, or the Gorbals as they were......
Didn't mean a hole in the sense of London, Leicester, or the Gorbals as they were......
AJI said:
Which part of Munich is a hole?
...
Always ranked it as one of my favorite cities that I've ever been to.
+1...
Always ranked it as one of my favorite cities that I've ever been to.
Anyone that thinks Munich is a dreadful place needs to visit
it again.
I go to Germany a lot. I could quite easily see myself
retiring there, if the family permitted it.
Seeing as this is a car site, where else in the world can I
waft at 200 kmh past a copper without trouble and live in a
country with world class cars and highly valued engineering skills ?
Certainly not in M25 land, that's for sure.
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